Lawsuit accuses parole officers of failing to detain suspects in Royal Oak murder

DAVE PHILLIPS

Published
12:00 am EDT, Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Lawsuits have been filed in state and federal court against the Michigan Department of Corrections, accusing parole officers within the state's prison system of failing to do their jobs in failing to detain two people now accused of murdering an elderly Royal Oak woman.

"The Michigan Department of Corrections didn't properly supervise two parolees charged in last year's slaying of a Royal Oak woman and are now being held responsible," states a press release from the Rasor Law Firm, which filed the suits.

"Nancy Dailey ... had her throat slit while hog-tied to a chair by two ex-convicts that were known by the parole office to have recently violated their parole and also known to have committed crimes in the Royal Oak area. A classic Good Samaritan, Nancy Dailey paid the two criminals to do yard work and chores around the house. Tragically, this good deed resulted in her untimely death."

"Both parolees had been on a local crime spree in Southeastern Oakland County and were wanted by police," the release states.

"The parolees met with their parole officer, who knew they were violating their parole and were wanted for crimes, who released them back into the community, and did not take further action."

Rasor attorney John Marko said that his first question to the parole officer in court will be: "Why?"

The lawsuit -- filed on behalf of Dailey's niece, Nan Drinkard, who represents Dailey's estate -- claims that ex-convicts have been released "without any meaningful supervision" multiple times.

Marko said it's clear there is a problem within the MDOC.

"Supervision, policies, procedures; they need to reform their entire system. And the MDOC isn't even denying there's a problem," Marko said.

"No surprise that many go on to commit violent and heinous crimes shortly after being released," the suit states.

The lawsuit also states that Michigan "is one of only four states that spends more on corrections than it does on higher education.

"This whole overblown budget failed to protect Nancy Dailey and has failed the State of Michigan as a whole. Michigan deserves better."

John Cordell, public information officer for the MDOC, said that the organization can't comment on any pending litigation at this time.

He said that the Michigan Attorney General's office could comment on their behalf, as the Attorney General -- Bill Schuette -- will be representing them in the case.

Attorney General spokeswoman Joy Yearout declined to comment on this case, noting that her office hasn't yet been served.

Wood and Watson are currently being held in the Oakland County Jail, charged with first-degree murder. A trial is scheduled for January. If convicted as charged, each would receive a mandatory life without parole sentence.